On Saturday night’s starry night, an enchanting celestial spectacle promises to captivate the eyes of the inhabitants of Egypt. Indeed, the Ursids, an annual meteor shower, will light up the sky during this winter solstice period in the northern hemisphere.
Professor of astronomy at the National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics (NRIAG) Ashraf Tadros, a leading expert in the field, announces this event with enthusiasm. The Ursids will offer a natural spectacle of about ten meteors per hour, generated by dust debris from the orbit of the comet Tuttle, discovered in 1790.
The name “Ursids” comes from their apparent origin near the constellation of the Minor Bear, close to the North Star, explains Professor Tadros. This meteor shower, which runs from December 17 to 25 each year, will culminate on the night of December 21 to 22, offering a spectacle of unparalleled celestial beauty.
These astronomical phenomena occur when the Earth passes through trails of dust and small pebbles scattered by comets and asteroids during its orbit around the sun. These objects collide with the Earth’s upper atmosphere, burning up at altitudes between 70 and 100 kilometers to offer this breathtaking light show.
It is essential to note that these meteors are completely harmless, disintegrating long before they can reach the Earth’s surface. This natural phenomenon, long awaited by astronomy enthusiasts, offers a unique opportunity to admire the grandeur of the universe and let yourself be carried away by the magic of the stars.
In this period of reflection and renewal that the winter solstice represents, the contemplation of the Ursids in the Egyptian sky offers an invitation to meditation and wonder before the infinite mysteries of the universe. May everyone enjoy this rare and sublime spectacle, recalling the beauty and grandeur that surround us, far beyond our earthly daily life.